Verbs: Imperative Mood

01

Forming the Imperative

To form a command, you generally take the present tense stem of the verb and remove the prefix (usually ⁧⁧تَـ⁩⁩ (ta-)). Because Arabic words cannot start with a consonant cluster (two consonants without a vowel in between), you must add a "helper" vowel at the beginning, written as an Alif (⁧⁧ا⁩⁩ (alifalifʾalifalif)).

The sound of this starting vowel depends on the middle vowel of the present tense verb:

• The 'u' sound: If the middle vowel of the present tense is a Damma (⁧ـُ⁩ (u)), the imperative starts with ⁧اُ⁩ (u).

• ⁧اُكْتُبْ الدَّرْسَ.⁩

  uktub al-darsa.uktub al-darsa.uktub ʾal-darsa.uktub al-darsa.

  Write the lesson.

• ⁧اُدْخُلْ الْغُرْفَةَ.⁩

  udkhul al-ghurfata.udkhul al-ghurfata.udkhul ʾal-ghurfata.udkhul al-ghurfata.

  Enter the room.

• The 'i' sound: If the middle vowel is a Fatha (⁧ـَ⁩ (aaʾaa)) or a Kasra (⁧ـِ⁩ (i)), the imperative starts with ⁧اِ⁩ (i).

• ⁧اِجْلِسْ هُنَا.⁩

  ijlis hunā.id͟jlis hunā.iǧlis hunā.ijlis huna.

  Sit here.

• ⁧اِفْتَحْ الْبَابَ.⁩

  iftaḥ al-bāba.iftaḥ al-bāba.iftaḥ ʾal-bāba.iftaḥ al-baba.

  Open the door.

02

Conjugation by Gender and Number

The ending of the verb changes depending on who you are commanding.

• You (masculine singular): No suffix is added. The verb ends in a ⁧⁧سُكُون⁩⁩ (sukūnsukūnsukuwnsukwn) (silence).

• ⁧اِذْهَبْ إِلَى الْعَمَلِ.⁩

  idhab ilá al-‘amali.idhab ilá al-‘amali.idhab ilá ʾal-‘amali.idhab ilá al-‘amali.

  Go to work.

• You (feminine singular): Add ⁧⁧ـِي⁩⁩ (-ī-ī-iy-y) to the end.

• ⁧اِشْرَبِي الْقَهْوَةَ.⁩

  ishrabī al-qahwata.ishrabī al-qahwata.ishrabiy ʾal-qahwata.ishraby al-qahwata.

  Drink the coffee.

• You (plural masculine/mixed): Add ⁧⁧ـُوا⁩⁩ (-ū-ū-uw-w) to the end. Note that the final ⁧⁧ألف⁩⁩ (alifalifʾalifalif) is written but not pronounced.

• ⁧اُدْرُسُوا اللُّغَةَ الْعَرَبِيَّةَ.⁩

  udrusū al-lughata al-‘arabiyyata.udrusū al-lughata al-‘arabiyyata.udrusuw ʾal-lughata ʾal-‘arabiyyata.udrusw al-lughata al-‘arabiyata.

  Study the Arabic language.

• You (plural feminine): Add ⁧⁧ـْنَ⁩⁩ (-na) to the end.

• ⁧اِسْمَعْنَ الْكَلَامَ.⁩

  isma‘na al-kalāma.isma‘na al-kalāma.isma‘na ʾal-kalāma.isma‘na al-kalama.

  Listen to the words.

• You (dual - two people): Add ⁧⁧ـَا⁩⁩ (-ā-ā-ā-a) to the end.

• ⁧اِلْعَبَا فِي الْحَدِيقَةِ.⁩

  il‘abā fī al-ḥadīqati.il‘abā fī al-ḥadīqati.il‘abā fiy ʾal-ḥadiyqati.il‘aba fy al-ḥadyqati.

  Play (you two) in the garden.

03

Negative Commands (Prohibitions)

To tell someone not to do something, you do not use the imperative form described above. Instead, use the particle ⁧⁧لَا⁩⁩ (lālālāla) followed by the present tense verb (in the Jussive mood).

• ⁧لَا تَكْتُبْ عَلَى الْجِدَارِ.⁩

  lā taktub ‘alá al-jidāri.lā taktub ‘alá al-d͟jidāri.lā taktub ‘alá ʾal-ǧidāri.la taktub ‘alá al-jidari.

  Do not write on the wall.

• ⁧لَا تَذْهَبِي هُنَاكَ.⁩

  lā tadhabī hunāka.lā tadhabī hunāka.lā tadhabiy hunāka.la tadhaby hunaka.

  Do not go there (female).

• ⁧لَا تَأْكُلُوا هَذَا.⁩

  lā ta’kulū hādhā.lā ta’kulū hādhā.lā ta’kuluw hādhā.la ta’kulw hadha.

  Do not eat this (plural).

04

Politeness

The imperative form can sound quite direct or harsh in Arabic. To soften a request and make it polite, it is common to add ⁧⁧مِنْ فَضْلِكَ⁩⁩ (min faḍlika) - to a male or ⁧⁧مِنْ فَضْلِكِ⁩⁩ (min faḍliki) - to a female, which means "please".

• ⁧اِقْرَأْ الْكِتَابَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ.⁩

  iqra’ al-kitāba min faḍlika.iqra’ al-kitāba min faḍlika.iqra’ ʾal-kitāba min faḍlika.iqra’ al-kitaba min faḍlika.

  Read the book, please.